Lip Balm

After Harry and Ron boarded the train, Ron, as a prefect, had to go patrol it. Harry was not too upset; he and Ginny wanted to find an empty compartment.

"Ginny, come look at the new divination crystal ball we bought from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes!" Lavender Brown spotted Ginny in the corridor and called out happily.

"Er, Harry, I have to go over for a bit." Ginny only had time to give Harry an apologetic look before the young lionesses dragged her into the compartment.

Harry watched Ginny turn away, her long red hair streaming behind her, and felt a strange melancholy rise in his heart.

"Hey, Harry." A familiar voice came from behind him.

"Neville!" Harry saw round-faced Neville Longbottom and Flag Brown poking their heads out from the compartment ahead.

"We heard your name." Neville waved to Harry. Harry pushed up his glasses and quickly slipped inside.

Only, Harry had barely warmed his seat when Neville suddenly let out an annoyed little cry and ducked under the seat to catch his toad. His toad had always loved freedom.

"Want me to help?" Harry lowered his head and asked.

"Thanks, Harry, but I'm sure I can find him before we get off." Neville scratched his head.

"Looking for his toad has practically become his opening-of-term ritual. Luckily, Trevor always gets found in the end." Flag stuffed a whole Chocolate Frog into his mouth in one go, his cheeks bulging.

"Hello, Harry Potter. I'm Romilda, Romilda Vane." After a snicker, a confident female voice rang out. Harry and the others turned their heads and saw a girl standing in the compartment doorway, with a pair of large dark eyes, a prominent chin, and long black hair.

"Hello, Romilda." Harry looked in surprise at the witch who had come in uninvited.